Posture, breathing mechanics, muscle imbalances, weakness, mobility restrictions, and repetitive movement patterns can all affect how the body moves and may contribute to pain or difficulty performing everyday activities.
At Top Choice Physical Therapy & Wellness, our licensed physical therapists take a whole-body approach to rehabilitation. We evaluate not only where you hurt, but also how your posture, strength, mobility, breathing, balance, and movement patterns may be contributing to your symptoms.
Our goal is to identify the factors affecting your movement and create an individualized physical therapy program designed around your specific condition and goals.
What Is Posture-Based Physical Therapy?
Posture-based physical therapy evaluates how different areas of the body work together during movement.
The body is naturally asymmetrical, but certain muscle imbalances, movement habits, injuries, breathing patterns, weakness, or mobility restrictions may cause compensations that contribute to pain or reduced function.
Depending on your examination, treatment may address:
- Postural alignment and body awareness
- Muscle imbalances
- Right-to-left movement asymmetries
- Breathing and rib-cage mechanics
- Core and pelvic control
- Strength and stability
- Mobility and flexibility
- Neuromuscular control
- Balance and coordination
- Compensatory movement patterns
- Functional and sports-specific movement
Posture-focused physical therapy is not simply about standing or sitting straighter. The goal is to understand how and why your body is moving the way it does and determine whether those patterns are contributing to your symptoms.
Is Top Choice Physical Therapy PRI Certified?
No.
Top Choice Physical Therapy & Wellness is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), and our physical therapists do not represent themselves as PRI-certified practitioners.
Some patients find Top Choice after searching online for Postural Restoration Institute, PRI physical therapy, Postural Restoration, PRI exercises, or a PRI therapist near them.
Our therapists evaluate many of the same types of physical problems that may cause someone to search for these services, including:
- Postural asymmetry
- Abnormal movement patterns
- Muscle imbalance
- Breathing mechanics
- Rib-cage and trunk mobility
- Pelvic and core control
- Neuromuscular coordination
- Compensatory movement
We may incorporate posture-, breathing-, movement-, and neuromuscular-based principles when clinically appropriate, along with other evidence-informed physical therapy techniques.
Treatment at Top Choice is based on your individual physical therapy evaluation, rather than requiring every patient to follow one specific treatment system.
Do You Have to See a PRI-Certified Therapist for Postural Problems?
Not necessarily.
The appropriate physical therapist depends on your condition, symptoms, examination findings, and treatment goals.
Licensed physical therapists are trained to evaluate movement, strength, mobility, balance, coordination, posture, and functional limitations.
At Top Choice Physical Therapy, we determine which factors are contributing to your problem and develop a treatment plan based on your individual needs.
If you specifically require treatment from a clinician holding a Postural Restoration Institute credential, Top Choice does not currently represent its therapists as PRI-certified.
Can Physical Therapy Help With Postural Asymmetry?
Physical therapy may help when postural or movement asymmetries are associated with pain, weakness, stiffness, reduced mobility, or difficulty performing daily, work, recreational, or athletic activities.
Your physical therapist may evaluate how your:
- Feet and ankles
- Knees
- Hips and pelvis
- Spine
- Rib cage
- Shoulders
- Neck
interact during movement.
Instead of focusing only on the painful area, your therapist can identify other mobility, strength, or movement impairments that may be contributing to the problem.
Can Breathing Mechanics Affect Posture and Movement?
Breathing involves coordinated movement of the diaphragm, rib cage, abdominal muscles, and trunk.
For some patients, breathing mechanics may be one component of a broader movement or postural problem.
When appropriate, your physical therapist may incorporate breathing exercises with mobility, stabilization, strengthening, or neuromuscular exercises as part of your rehabilitation program.
Breathing exercises are used when clinically relevant and are not automatically appropriate for every condition.
Why Can Pain Occur Somewhere Other Than the Source of the Problem?
The area where you feel pain is not always the only area contributing to your symptoms.
For example:
- Hip weakness or limited mobility may influence knee mechanics.
- Ankle restrictions may change the way you walk or squat.
- Trunk and shoulder-blade control may influence shoulder or neck movement.
- Pelvic and core control may affect lower-extremity mechanics.
- Rib-cage mobility and breathing mechanics may influence trunk movement.
This is why our physical therapists perform a comprehensive evaluation rather than automatically treating only the location of your pain.
What Treatments May Be Used?
Your individualized physical therapy program may include:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Postural retraining
- Movement retraining
- Manual therapy
- Strengthening exercises
- Mobility and flexibility exercises
- Core stabilization
- Breathing exercises
- Balance and proprioceptive training
- Functional movement training
- Sports-specific rehabilitation
- Home exercise instruction
Not every patient requires every treatment. Your therapist will select interventions based on your evaluation and progress.
Who May Benefit From Posture and Movement-Focused Physical Therapy?
A posture and movement evaluation may be appropriate for people experiencing:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Recurrent injuries
- Muscle tightness
- Weakness
- Limited mobility
- Balance problems
- Difficulty walking or running
- Sports-related movement problems
- Persistent postural discomfort
- Movement asymmetries
Because many different conditions can cause these symptoms, an evaluation is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment approach.
What Happens During Your First Visit?
Your physical therapist will discuss your symptoms, medical history, activities, and goals.
Depending on your condition, your evaluation may include assessment of:
- Range of motion
- Strength
- Posture
- Walking or running mechanics
- Balance
- Mobility
- Functional movement
- Joint mechanics
- Muscle flexibility
- Neuromuscular control
- Breathing mechanics when clinically relevant
Your therapist will then explain the findings and develop an individualized treatment plan.
Looking for Postural Restoration or PRI Physical Therapy Near Jersey City or Union City?
If you searched for Postural Restoration, PRI physical therapy, a PRI therapist near Jersey City, postural asymmetry treatment, posture correction, breathing-focused physical therapy, or movement-based rehabilitation, Top Choice Physical Therapy may be able to help with the underlying movement problems that led you to that search.
We provide individualized physical therapy based on a comprehensive evaluation of your specific symptoms, impairments, functional limitations, and goals.
Physical Therapy in Jersey City & Union City, NJ
Top Choice Physical Therapy & Wellness provides physical therapy to patients in Jersey City, Union City, and surrounding North Jersey communities.
If pain, weakness, stiffness, posture, or abnormal movement is keeping you from doing what you want to do, our physical therapists can evaluate the problem and help determine the appropriate next step.
Request a Physical Therapy Evaluation
Schedule an evaluation with Top Choice Physical Therapy & Wellness to find out whether posture, strength, mobility, breathing mechanics, or movement patterns may be contributing to your symptoms.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!